Croatian Premier resigns, quits active politics

ZAGREB (AFP) - Croatias Prime Minister Ivo Sanader resigned and quit politics on Wednesday, only hinting at frustration with his countrys delayed EU membership bid as a reason for the shock announcement. I have decided to withdraw from active politics and will not run as a candidate for Croatian president in elections due this year, Sanader told a hastily arranged media conference. Thank God I am not ill... and I admit that I did not accept offers for engagement in European Union institutions, he said without elaborating on the move to journalists. He said his party was to propose Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor as his immediate successor to President Stipe Mesic. The move comes after the European Union stopped accession talks last week with Zagreb due to a border row with neighbouring Slovenia, which has blocked the EU process since December. Asked whether his announcement was prompted by Croatias stalled EU entry process, Sanader admitted the issue had contributed to his decision. I certainly also had that in my mind while I was considering this decision, he said. The EU... and project of European integration have no chance if the principle of blackmailing is accepted as a principle of acting within the EU, he said referring to Ljubljanas blockade of the talks.